CDs SENT TO HALF A COW

October 2008

NELL WEBBER Stilettos and Heartache

email: nellwebber@hotmail.com

We get sent all sorts of music here at Half A Cow – from the usual fuzzy power-pop rockers to death metal Christians and teenage poetry readings set to Wagner-plus-beats. All sorts. And we see that as either a compliment that we have released a variety of rock and roll over the years OR there are lots of bands with a copy of Australian Music Directory and plenty of stamped envelopes doing a blanket run.

So it wasn't a surprise to discover that this well-presented cd from a singer called Nell Webber opened with what could only be described as a show tune. A show tune? What's that, papa? A sprightly, toe-tapping UP number full of stops'n'starts and a catchy chorus wrapped up in a horn section. The sort of thing you'd see on the Mike Walsh Show. The what? It is 2008, papa! Okay, how about Dancing With The Stars or Australian Idol 'Show Tunes' Special.

'This Game' is a great song. It had me swanning around the Half A Cow office, sliding one knee to the floor down the hallway, hey even singing in the rain! So full marks for a top-o-the-morning-to-you tune, Nell. It has a great hi-hat opening (always a good thing in my opinion) and a swag of melody action to keep the listener from wanting to put a stop to it.

If 'This Game' is the 'stilettos' of the cd title, then the second track 'Addictive Love' is the 'heartache' of it. And it's your more standard pop fare with the slightly bleepy-bloopy backing track. Good – but it ain't no show tune! The lyrics to both of these songs were written by Nell with musical help from the mysterious Powerhouse Records.

Sydney-based Nell's background has been musicals, choirs and singing in a lobby bar. Even the 2000 Sydney Olympics opening ceremony. Judging from these two songs, we can see that she will have a successful future in either the music industry or the musical industry. Or both. - ND